Written Answers Tuesday 28 March 2006

Scottish Executive

Cities

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken towards the "effective governance arrangements at a regional level" referred to in Review of Scotland’s Cities.

Mr Tom McCabe: In line with my answers to questions S2W-22373 and S2W-22374 on 27 January 2006, the Executive recognises the critical role played by successful and dynamic city-regions. Our principal aim is to make it easier for organisations to work together – both for greater efficiency and to improve their responsiveness to the needs of local people.

  Accordingly we continue to support a range of measures to improve joint working between agencies. These approaches include Community Planning, Community Health Partnerships, Regional Transport Partnerships, regional workforce planning in NHSScotland, strategic land-use planning at city-region level and other cross-boundary processes and networks.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Concessionary Travel

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the comments made by the Minister for Transport and Telecommunications on 15 March 2006 in respect of my national concessionary travel pass application ( Official Report c. 24045), whether his assurance on timescales applies to all individuals whose applications have been received.

Tavish Scott: We will make every effort to ensure that everyone who submitted a valid application before 20 March will receive their entitlement card by 1 April 2006. Those who for whatever reason do not have a new Entitlement Card by 1 April will be able to use their old travel card for local travel for a limited period of time thereafter.

Concessionary Travel

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications have been received for the national concessionary travel scheme, broken down by local authority area.

Tavish Scott: The information requested is provided in the following table.

  Number of Applications to the Scotland-Wide Free Bus Scheme for Each Local Authority as at 17 March 2006

  

 Local Authority
 Application Count


 Aberdeen City
 32,576


 Aberdeenshire
 25,312


 Angus
 15,611


 Argyll and Bute
 11,530


 City of Edinburgh
 52,734


 Clackmannanshire
 6,010


 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
 1,312


 Dumfries and Galloway
 16,048


 Dundee City
 23,634


 East Ayrshire
 16,071


 East Dunbartonshire
 13,034


 East Lothian
 15,789


 East Renfrewshire
 10,573


 Falkirk
 24,367


 Fife
 43,166


 Glasgow
 66,213


 Highland
 15,013


 Inverclyde
 11,409


 Midlothian
 11,394


 Moray
 9,786


 North Ayrshire
 19,182


 North Lanarkshire
 36,571


 Orkney Islands
 2,698


 Perth and Kinross
 17,339


 Renfrewshire
 22,173


 Scottish Borders
 15,065


 Shetland Islands
 2,520


 South Ayrshire
 16,433


 South Lanarkshire
 35,007


 Stirling
 11,832


 West Dunbartonshire
 11,408


 West Lothian
 18,417


 Grand Total:
 630,227

Concessionary Travel

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals are eligible for the national concessionary travel scheme, broken down by local authority area.

Tavish Scott: The information requested is provided in the following table.

  The estimate of the number of people eligible for the Scotland–wide Free Bus Scheme has been calculated by using the numbers of older people for each local authority obtained from the 2001 census and increasing the total by 10% as an estimate of the number of eligible disabled people.

  Estimated Number of People Eligible for the Scotland-Wide Free Bus Scheme for Older and Disabled People for Each Local Authority

  

 Local Authority
 Number Eligible


 Aberdeen City
 46,327


 Aberdeenshire
 48,064


 Angus
 28,231


 Argyll and Bute
 24,808


 City of Edinburgh
 97,859


 Clackmannanshire
 10,357


 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
 7,594


 Dumfries and Galloway
 41,350


 Dundee City
 36,795


 East Ayrshire
 28,490


 East Dunbartonshire
 25,180


 East Lothian
 22,401


 East Renfrewshire
 20,513


 Falkirk
 33,292


 Fife
 82,405


 Glasgow
 129,563


 Highland
 51,275


 Inverclyde
 20,373


 Midlothian
 17,982


 Moray
 20,621


 North Ayrshire
 32,520


 North Lanarkshire
 67,131


 Orkney Islands
 4,825


 Perth and Kinross
 35,900


 Renfrewshire
 39,392


 Scottish Borders
 29,059


 Shetland Islands
 4,559


 South Ayrshire
 30,820


 South Lanarkshire
 68,274


 Stirling
 19,863


 West Dunbartonshire
 21,288


 West Lothian
 28,479


 Grand Total
 1,175,590

Concessionary Travel

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the national concessionary travel scheme to carers whose assistance is necessary to enable those entitled to a pass to use it and, if so, whether a GP’s certification would be sufficient to determine eligibility or what other evidence would be required.

Tavish Scott: The Scotland-wide Free Bus Scheme for Older and Disabled People will provide free travel for companions where assistance is required to travel. The eligibility criteria for companions is set out in The National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled People (Eligible Persons and Eligible Services)(Scotland) Order 2006 (S.S.I. 2006/117).

Concessionary Travel

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost would be of extending the national concessionary fare scheme to the carers of those entitled to a pass.

Tavish Scott: The Scotland-wide Free Bus Scheme for Older and Disabled People will provide free travel for companions where assistance is required to travel. The cost of concessionary travel for companions will be covered by the £159 million capped budget for 2006-07.

Culture

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it anticipated would be the benefits of Edinburgh being named UNESCO City of Literature and what the actual benefits have been.

Patricia Ferguson: The benefits in achieving recognition for Edinburgh as UNESCO’s first City of Literature are expected to be: raised awareness and prestige of Scotland’s literature nationally and internationally; new initiatives attracted to Scotland; Edinburgh used as a model for other World Cities of Literature, providing partnerships with other cities with strong literary profiles and aspirations, and a focus and co-ordination for literary activity, encouraging greater participation at all levels of Scottish society.

  It is too soon to judge the full impact; however, some benefits already accrued are:

  the inaugural Mann Booker International Prize, one of the most valuable new international awards, was held in Edinburgh in 2005;

  during the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2005 a high-profile delegation from UNESCO and from other potential cities of literature enjoyed a special programme of events;

  City of Refuge – in partnership with Norwich, Liverpool and Cardiff, to inaugurate a UK network of cities of refuge for writers in exile from their home countries over issues of freedom of speech;

  Edinburgh has also been gaining profile as a centre for publishing, with a new literary agency opening in August 2005 (the Maggie McKernan literary agency), and a new cross-party group on publishing set up by members of the Scottish Parliament, and

  development of a city-wide campaign to encourage Edinburgh citizens to read one book, to be launched in the autumn of 2006 with Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped.

Culture

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to promote Edinburgh as UNESCO City of Literature (a) within Scotland, (b) within the United Kingdom and (c) outwith the United Kingdom.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote Edinburgh as UNESCO City of Literature.

Patricia Ferguson: This is primarily a matter for the management of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature, but they have been working closely with VisitScotland on promoting Edinburgh as UNESCO City of Literature.

  I refer the member to the question S2W-24187 answered on 28 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Culture

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to commit funding to Edinburgh as UNESCO City of Literature.

Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24184 on 24 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Culture

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Edinburgh’s naming as UNESCO City of Literature has had on the number of tourists visiting Edinburgh and Scotland.

Patricia Ferguson: Tourism in Edinburgh is performing very strongly indeed. Visitors’ interest in literary matters ranging from those with an interest in the works of Burns and Scott through to those with a fascination in the Da Vinci Code (Rosslyn Chapel). VisitScotland actively promotes Edinburgh’s status as UNESCO City of Literature as a way of encouraging more visitors who are specifically interested in literary activities such as the Edinburgh International Book Festival to experience Edinburgh for themselves.

  A recent example is The 100 Best Scottish Books guide, which VisitScotland produced in conjunction with Orange to promote Edinburgh as UNESCO’s City of Literature. This describes various literary tours including The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour, Rebus Tours, Trainspotting Tour etc as well as indicating the locations best associated with some of Scotland’s most famous authors.

  In addition, at this year’s Tartan Week exhibition in New York VisitScotland will draw heavily on the interest in the Da Vinci Code to promote Edinburgh and specifically Rosslyn Chapel as a great place to visit.

  VisitScotland has also been liaising with Edinburgh World Heritage to work on ways in which it can continue to promote Edinburgh as UNESCO’s City of Literature. Discussions have also taken place between VisitScotland officials and Edinburgh World Heritage’s Communications Manager about new activities based around the literature theme.

Culture

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Edinburgh’s naming as UNESCO City of Literature has had on industries related to literature and publishing in Edinburgh and Scotland.

Patricia Ferguson: The city’s title has inspired several new books, including a new edition of The Edinburgh Literary Companion by Andrew Lownie, Allan Foster’s The Literary Traveller in Edinburgh , and an Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature branded title published in November 2005, A Sense of Place - a collection of winning essays drawn from a Scottish Publishers Association competition.

  Edinburgh has also been gaining profile as a centre for publishing, with a new literary agency opening in August (the Maggie McKernan literary agency).

Doctors

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any Senior House Officers (SHOs) expressing concerns in respect of obtaining employment due to the phasing-out of the training grade and introduction of the Modernising Medical Careers initiative; if so, whether it will provide an assurance that, if jobs under the initiative are open to competitive recruitment, current SHOs would be eligible to apply and what measures it is taking to ensure that these doctors do not find employment elsewhere.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Executive is committed to effective implementation of Modernising Medical Careers (MMC), the UK-wide reform of postgraduate medical training. Arrangements have not yet begun in Scotland to phase out the SHO grade. We are considering how best to assimilate both current training posts and, subject to open competition, the junior doctors who occupy them into the new MMC programmes.

  We recognise the concerns of current SHOs about their future employment options under MMC. Officials are working with stakeholders, including the BMA and NHS Education for Scotland, in planning for implementation to ensure an effective transition.

  Entry to, and progress through, MMC training will be competency-based, although the detailed selection arrangements for individual MMC specialty and general practice training programmes have yet to be finalised. Current SHOs will be eligible to apply for advertised MMC training programmes, subject to confirmation of the individual specialty selection criteria and to existing legislative requirements which govern appointment processes across the UK.

Education

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reduce class sizes in Inverclyde, given reports that schools involved in the proposed reorganisation of secondary education may have insufficient resources to cope with any reduction in class sizes.

Peter Peacock: Managing class size reductions, in both existing and planned new schools, is a matter for Inverclyde Council. In order to assist with the costs of reducing class sizes and employing additional teachers to meet our commitment of 53,000 teachers in 2007, the Executive has announced additional funding for all authorities of £18 million in 2006-07 and £44 million in 2007-08, of which Inverclyde will receive an appropriate share.

Energy

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the net value to the Scottish economy of the annual surplus in electricity generation over electricity consumption in Scotland.

Allan Wilson: The latest year for which such we have such data is 2002, taken from the Scottish Executive funded Energy Study published earlier this year. In Scotland in 2002 the electricity generation which was in excess of customer demand (allowing for transmission and distribution losses) was 8.034TWh. This electricity was exported to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The precise net value of this is a commercial matter for electricity generators and suppliers. However, according to OFGEM, the average UK wholesale price for electricity in 2002 was £15.20/MWh, on which basis the gross value of sales of electricity to England, Wales and Northern Ireland is estimated at £122 million.

Fire Precautions Act 1971

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many exemptions from the requirement to hold fire certificates issued under sections 5 and 8 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 (as amended) have been given by the fire and safety authorities since 1997 (a) in total and (b) annually.

Hugh Henry: The number of exemptions from the requirement to hold fire certificates for each year from 1997-98 to 2004-05 (the most recent data available) and in total, is set out in the following table:

  

 Year
 No. of Exemptions


 1997-98
 131


 1998-99
 221


 1999-2000
 149


 2000-01
 164


 2001-02
 149


 2002-03
 86


 2003-04
 96


 2004-05
 58


 Total
 1,054

Health

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop the role of social enterprise in addressing health inequalities.

Malcolm Chisholm: A Partnership for a Better Scotland (Bib. number 27591) gives a commitment to encourage local compacts between local authorities and the voluntary sector, and to improve partnerships with health boards. In order to further encourage local compacts, the Scottish Executive commissioned an independent consultant to carry out a mapping and research exercise. Local compact good practice guidance has now been produced and will be launched and disseminated widely on 28 March 2006.

  The forthcoming social enterprise strategy to be published in draft shortly will also seek to develop the role of social enterprises in addressing health inequality.

Health

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Grampian provides a comprehensive service for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rehabilitation, as recommended in national guidelines, as compared with other NHS boards and what the reasons are for the position on the matter.

Mr Andy Kerr: NHS Grampian currently provides a rolling programme of pulmonary rehabilitation for suitable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), aimed at maximising individual patients’ well-being, quality of life and life expectancy. In line with the recommendations of the NICE guidelines on COPD, the programme is delivered by a range of professionals, and covers smoking cessation, dietary advice, medication support, a graduated exercise programme and emotional support.

  Information on comparisons between the NHS Grampian programme and those of other NHS boards is not held centrally, but NHS Grampian believes that its pulmonary rehabilitation programme is as comprehensive as any in Scotland.

Higher Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the principle of students studying abroad as part of their degree course.

Nicol Stephen: Yes. I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24259 on 23 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Homelessness

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what services are entirely devoted to providing health care to homeless people in the West of Scotland parliamentary region, broken down by NHS board area.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is detailed in the table Healthcare Services Devoted to Homeless People , which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39272).

  The Homelessness Taskforce in its report Homelessness: An Action Plan for Prevention and Effective Response (2002) recommended that "In the case of primary care services, specialist provision should be seen as transitional for all but a small number of homeless people. It should provide planned support over a reasonable period of time until individuals are re-housed and settled with access to their local GP practice and primary health care team. The general approach should be to support homeless people to maintain their current health networks or to establish new regular contact with mainstream health services".

  The Health and Homelessness Standards for NHS boards, published in March 2005, recognise that specialist homeless services may be appropriate for homeless people for a short period of time, but that the existence of such services should not mean that everyone who is homeless is automatically channelled through this route. The aim is to incorporate homeless people within mainstream services and ensure that these services are designed in ways that meet their needs.

  Standard 5 of the Health and Homelessness Standards assists NHS boards to understand the ways in which services can operate with the greatest positive impact on the health of homelessness people and the positioning of specialist services.

  Information on the Health and Homelessness Standards is available publicly from the Scottish Executive website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/03/20774/53761.

Justice

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23603 by Colin Boyd QC on 13 March 2006, whether the investigation team for the murder of Marion Ross in Kilmarnock in 1997 is currently active.

Colin Boyd QC: There are no active lines of enquiry currently being pursued in relation to the murder of Marion Ross. However, the murder investigation has not been closed and any new information will be considered and where appropriate investigated by Strathclyde Police.

NHS Boards

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the contents of the report submitted by Pennie Taylor on 23 November 2005, Redrawing NHS Boundaries in Argyll & Clyde - A Public Consultation , and whether it will amend guidance to health boards and other public bodies in response to the criticisms made of the quality of consultation.

Mr Andy Kerr: In line with the interim guidance on Informing, Engaging and Consulting Patients, Carers and Members of the Public in Developing Health and Community Care Policies and Services  issued to the NHS in March 2004, Pennie Taylor was asked to take part in evaluating the consultation process on the redrawing of NHS boundaries in Argyll and Clyde. Her comments, and those drawn from the experience of NHS boards in using the interim guidance to engage with their local communities, are currently being used to update the interim guidance.

NHS Waiting Times

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the waiting times are for accessing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rehabilitation in each NHS board, by location.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally. The general waiting times standards apply to the care of those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. There is no specific waiting time standards for access to pulmonary rehabilitation.

NHS Waiting Times

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people require access to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rehabilitation, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally. The NICE Guidelines on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease set out the indications regarding patients who would benefit from access to pulmonary rehabilitation.

NHS Waiting Times

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding has been allocated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rehabilitation, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: NHS boards are expected to provide appropriate rehabilitation and other services for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from their unified budgets. It is not possible to isolate the resources allocated to pulmonary rehabilitation.

Navigation

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which bodies are responsible for the marking of underwater hazards such as rocks, reefs and crannogs in lochs Lomond, Ness and Awe and other freshwater lochs.

Tavish Scott: Formal responsibility for the marking of underwater hazards rests with a navigation authority with the appropriate legal powers. The position is different in freshwater than coastal waters, where the Northern Lighthouse Board has statutory responsibility for the maintenance of aids to navigation in Scottish waters, and where statutory harbour authorities have similar responsibilities. The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority is not a navigation authority, however, it maintains informal hazard buoys installed by its predecessor organisations. British Waterways Scotland is the appointed navigation authority for Lochs Ness, Oich and Lochy, which form part of the Caledonian Canal, and is responsible for the upkeep of navigation marks in these waters. We are not aware of a navigation authority for Loch Awe.

People with Learning Difficulties

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support respite care provided by the voluntary sector for people with learning difficulties.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive is investing record levels in health and social care to improve the full range of community care services, including respite provision. Scottish Executive support for local authority community care funding in 2005-06 is £1,670 million. Audit Scotland’s annual indicators on respite show substantial increases in provision over the last two to three years. Additionally, local authorities receive a £16 million Change Fund per annum, to help implement the recommendations in The same as you? review of services for people with learning disabilities. One of the recommendations is for further development of short breaks for people with learning disabilities.

  It is for local partners to purchase services as appropriate, including from the voluntary sector. councils and NHS boards are now being asked at a local partnership level to agree annual local improvement targets on respite. Targets can be for particular client groups, depending on priorities agreed with stakeholders, including service users and carers. Targets need to be agreed annually with the Executive and are aimed at delivering sustained improvements in this key service.

Poverty

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of children living in poverty are from an ethnic minority group, expressed also as a percentage of the total ethnic minority population.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is only possible to identify the ethnic group of the head of household.

  In Scotland in 2002-03 to 2004-05, after housing costs, an estimated 6% of children living in households that are in relative low income poverty, have a minority ethnic head of household. Before housing costs the figure is estimated to be 7%.

  In Scotland in 2002-03 to 2004-05, after housing costs, an estimated 42% of children with a minority ethnic head of household, live in households that are in relative low income poverty. Before housing costs the figure is estimated to be 41%.

Poverty

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of children living in poverty are from a non-ethnic minority group, expressed also a percentage of the total non-ethnic minority population.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is only possible to identify the ethnic group of the head of household.

  In Scotland in 2002-03 to 2004-05, after housing costs, an estimated 94% of children living in households that are in relative low income poverty, have a non-minority ethnic head of household. Before housing costs the figure is estimated to be 93%.

  In Scotland in 2002-03 to 2004-05, after housing costs, an estimated 24% of children with a non-minority ethnic head of household, live in households that are in relative low income poverty. Before housing costs the figure is estimated to be 21%.

Poverty

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken on the comparative rates of child poverty in Scotland with the rest of the United Kingdom, examining in which social groups or family units child poverty is more or less prevalent.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive has not undertaken comparative studies between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom. We will produce a briefing shortly that interrogates the Scottish statistics by family unit breakdown but this will not make comparisons with Great Britain statistics.

  However, ministers continue to be involved in discussing ways to tackle child poverty with all of the administrations in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Ministers are actively involved in the Joint Ministerial Committee on Poverty, and at the recent meeting of the British Irish Council held in Edinburgh ministers from the eight member administrations agreed that their next topic for debate should be child poverty.

Poverty

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average net income of households would be if they had no associated housing costs.

Malcolm Chisholm: Median net income per household in Scotland in 2004-05 is estimated to be £332 per week.

  Net income is the total income from all sources (including benefits and tax credits) after deductions for tax, national insurance, council tax, pension contributions and maintenance payments.

Poverty

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any further plans to amend how poverty levels are calculated and, if so, what these plans are.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Department for Work and Pensions are developing a long-term measure of child poverty – which the Executive will adopt. This is being introduced this year in two stages. Future low income estimates for all individuals, working age adults and pensioners will be brought in line with the equivalisation methodology used in the new child poverty measure from next year.

  Full details on current and future methodologies for calculating low income estimates can be found in the latest Scottish Households Below Average Income 2004-05 publication (Bib. number 39177 on pages 8-10).

Rail Network

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what services are envisaged to run on the reopened Airdrie to Bathgate railway and, specifically, whether these will include a service between (a) Helensburgh/Balloch and Edinburgh Waverley as suggested by the Central Scotland Transport Corridor Studies in January 2003, (b) Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley or (c) Airdrie and Edinburgh.

Tavish Scott: Network Rail, the project promoters, are developing the project on the understanding that services will run between Edinburgh and a point west of Glasgow. As the service is not planned to be in operation until the end of 2010, it is important that the final decision on the exact service provided is made nearer the time so that it takes into account the best fit with the other services that will be running then.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Rail Network

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held with EWS about it giving up guaranteed space on the Forth Rail Bridge as a result of the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail link.

Tavish Scott: The Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine project will make possible the diversion of many of the EWS trains currently using the Forth Bridge onto a more direct and efficient route. A number of discussions have been held with EWS throughout the development period of this project. Transport Scotland maintains liaison with EWS on a wide range of matters, including future route plans for freight trains.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Rail Services

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people travelled by rail from (a) Glasgow to Edinburgh and (b) Edinburgh to Glasgow in each year since 1990.

Tavish Scott: Passenger data between Edinburgh and Glasgow based on ticket sales is:

  Edinburgh - Glasgow Point-to-Point Journeys*

  

 Fiscal Year
 Edinburgh-Glasgow
 
 Glasgow-Edinburgh
 
 Both Directions


 2001-02
 1,190,609
 53%
 1,070,855
 47%
 2,261,464


 2002-03
 1,315,385
 54%
 1,130,118
 46%
 2,445,503


 2003-04
 1,320,498
 52%
 1,195,590
 48%
 2,516,089


 2004-05
 1,404,089
 52%
 1,287,231
 48%
 2,691,320



  Edinburgh – Glasgow (Tertiary Zone) Journeys**

  

 Fiscal Year
 Edinburgh-Glasgow
 
 Glasgow-Edinburgh
 
 Both Directions


 1994-95
 716,657
 50%
 727,101
 50%
 1,443,758


 1995-96
 743,119
 50%
 738,205
 50%
 1,481,324


 1996-97
 777,610
 51%
 733,444
 49%
 1,511,054


 1997-98
 849,028
 52%
 797,335
 48%
 1,646,363


 1998-99
 1,121,874
 52%
 1,023,003
 48%
 2,144,877


 1999-2000
 1,031,769
 52%
 954,490
 48%
 1,986,259


 2000-01
 1,073,151
 50%
 1,056,058
 50%
 2,129,209


 2001-02
 1,090,718
 50%
 1,071,995
 50%
 2,162,713


 2002-03
 1,097,322
 49%
 1,124,504
 51%
 2,221,826


 2003-04
 1,183,810
 50%
 1,196,458
 50%
 2,380,269


 2004-05
 1,259,375
 49%
 1,287,624
 51%
 2,546,999



  Notes:

  *Point-to-point journeys include flexipass sales.

  **Where tickets are purchased at stations in the Glasgow or Edinburgh area.

Small Businesses

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support small high street businesses facing loss of business as a result of supermarket developments.

Ross Finnie: The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is currently consulting on a proposal to refer the market for the supply of groceries by retailers in the UK to the Competition Commission for a market investigation. The issues identified by OFT as potentially distorting competition include buyer power of big supermarkets, aspects of supermarket pricing behaviour and developments in the convenience store sector. Once I have details of the terms of any investigation by the Competition Commission, I will decide how best to engage.

Street Lighting

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress (a) has been made and (b) remains to be made to reduce light pollution and save energy by specifying appropriate lighting standards, as referred to in the Partnership Agreement.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive has made good progress with the Controlling Light Pollution and Reducing Lighting Energy Consumption  document. The draft stage has now been completed and the final document is now being prepared with an anticipated publication date of May 2006.

  The purpose of this document is to offer advice and guidance to developers and planners on good practice methods that will both reduce the environmental impact of any scheme and reduce the energy use of them.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Street Lighting

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding will be made available to roads authorities to upgrade road lighting with a view to reducing light pollution and saving energy.

Tavish Scott: Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) provision for local roads is to be increased by £60 million per annum in 2006-07 and 2007-08 (a 23% increase) as part of Spending Review 2004. The total GAE provision to local authorities for roads maintenance, which includes an allocation for street lighting, will amount to £320 million per annum by 2007-08.

  It is for each roads authority to allocate spending based on local priorities, and this should include consideration of street lighting requirements. They are also expected to adopt best practice in terms of reducing light pollution and saving energy in any replacement programme.

Street Lighting

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any surveys have been undertaken to assess the condition of street lighting equipment and what the findings have been of any such surveys.

Tavish Scott: Roads authorities throughout Scotland have carried out surveys on behalf of the UK Road Lighting Board, listing the age and condition of their columns and lanterns. The standard of the existing stock varies greatly across the country, but it is clear that concerted action is required to bring the overall stock up to an acceptable standard.

Street Lighting

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the grant aided expenditure (GAE) allocated to local authorities includes an allowance for the (a) running costs of street lighting, (b) maintenance cost of street lighting equipment and (c) costs of replacing and upgrading street lighting equipment and, if so, how much was paid via GAE to each local authority to cover such costs in each of the last five financial years.

Tavish Scott: The level of detail requested is not available. However, overall Scottish local authority GAE allocations for road lighting for 2001-06 are listed in the following table. It should be noted that these allocations are not budgets or spending targets. They form part of the more complex local government funding formula used to calculate one revenue grant figure for each local authority. It is then up to each local authority to decide how best to allocate their resources based on their local needs and priorities.

  Scottish Local Authorities: GAE Allocation for Road Lighting 2001-06 (£000)

  

 Local Authority
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Aberdeen City
 1,556
 1,647
 1,730
 1,789
 1,857


 Aberdeenshire
 1,650
 1,746
 1,835
 1,876
 1,947


 Angus
 896
 949
 997
 1,025
 1,064


 Argyll and Bute
 888
 940
 987
 997
 1,034


 Clackmannanshire
 395
 418
 439
 457
 474


 Dumfries and Galloway
 1,333
 1,411
 1,483
 1,531
 1,589


 Dundee City
 1,153
 1,220
 1,282
 1,313
 1,363


 East Ayrshire
 963
 1,019
 1,071
 1,095
 1,136


 East Dunbartonshire
 895
 948
 996
 1,027
 1,066


 East Lothian
 712
 753
 792
 823
 854


 East Renfrewshire
 795
 842
 885
 921
 956


 Edinburgh, City of
 2,813
 2,978
 3,129
 3,242
 3,365


 Eilean Siar
 213
 225
 236
 282
 292


 Falkirk
 1,476
 1,562
 1,642
 1,688
 1,752


 Fife
 3,094
 3,275
 3,441
 3,580
 3,715


 Glasgow City
 4,070
 4,308
 4,527
 4,628
 4,803


 Highland
 2,033
 2,152
 2,261
 2,459
 2,552


 Inverclyde
 622
 659
 692
 725
 753


 Midlothian
 662
 701
 737
 809
 839


 Moray
 737
 780
 820
 853
 885


 North Ayrshire
 1,183
 1,252
 1,316
 1,369
 1,420


 North Lanarkshire
 2,768
 2,930
 3,079
 3,173
 3,293


 Orkney
 260
 275
 289
 302
 313


 Perth and Kinross
 1,107
 1,172
 1,231
 1,279
 1,327


 Renfrewshire
 1,353
 1,432
 1,505
 1,564
 1,623


 Scottish Borders
 769
 814
 856
 908
 942


 Shetland
 182
 193
 203
 210
 218


 South Ayrshire
 946
 1,002
 1,052
 1,098
 1,140


 South Lanarkshire
 2,505
 2,652
 2,786
 2,858
 2,966


 Stirling
 788
 834
 877
 915
 949


 West Dunbartonshire
 658
 696
 732
 771
 800


 West Lothian
 1,273
 1,348
 1,416
 1,467
 1,523


 Scotland Total
 40,749
 43,136
 45,321
 47,037
 48,808



  Source: GAE Green Books for 2001-06.

Transport

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific reports it has commissioned into the future of the Forth Road Bridge; what the remit was of each report; when each report was commissioned, and when the results will be made public.

Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24370 on 28 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search . In addition, Transport Scotland will report its findings on the scope, form and function of any replacement crossing of the Forth in the summer of 2007.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Transport

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific instructions or guidance it will issue to Transport Scotland with regard to the planning of a potential new crossing across the River Forth.

Tavish Scott: As I announced in Parliament on 1 March 2006, I have asked Transport Scotland to take forward, as part of the Strategic Projects Review, consideration of the role of any replacement crossing of the Forth. Transport Scotland will assess the possible scope, form and function of any such replacement crossing in accordance with the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance and in light of the national transport strategy.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliamentary Procurement

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what guidelines are set for the sourcing of Scottish products in respect of catering within the Parliament.

Nora Radcliffe: The SPCB is required to comply with European procurement law that requires us to be fair, transparent and non-discriminatory in our treatment of suppliers. Within these parameters we have set requirements for the contractor to supply fresh, seasonal produce which creates an opportunity for local supply and within this framework a number of Scottish products are supplied. We continue to encourage our contractor to identify further opportunities for the use of local produce.

Parliamentary Publications

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what plans it has to ensure the publication of an annual volume of Scottish Parliament statistics, which provide the basis for answering many questions about the Parliament but have not been published since the 2002 edition.

Duncan McNeil: Staff turnover in the team responsible for their production has disrupted work on later volumes, but we will publish them as soon as possible.